She couldn't help but jolt a little as the shiny red door closed behind the teenage girl who had entered, feeling as though she had been purposefully locked out despite her position across the street. Nestled within a well-tended garden, the house radiated warmth in the honeyed glow of the golden hour. The front garden had been revived too, a symphony of flowers in full bloom still in the August air. Her eyes skimmed over the diamond-patterned leaded glass, the opacity of which only gave a hint to what she knew lay inside: the polished hardwood floors and carpets lush enough to squeeze between her toes. The gentle panelling and brass fixtures. The rounding of the stairs, the claw foot bathtub, and then the bedroom with the window that offered a view of the town and hills behind it. She briefly wondered whether the girl had the bedroom, and if so, had she pushed her bed to face the window so she could wake up to the sunrise every day? It had been over a year since Hermione had been in the house, but the details haunted her.

She tried to steady her breathing, massaging her fingertips on the rough parchment she clutched. She didn't need to open the envelope again, the words were already seared in her brain.

Dear Miss Hermione J Granger,

I am pleased to inform you that you have been appointed as Head Girl at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the upcoming academic year. Your dedication to your studies, leadership qualities, and commitment to upholding the values of our esteemed institution both during your schooling, and in the Second Wizarding War, have not gone unnoticed. The position of Head Girl comes with great responsibility, and I am confident that you will excel in your duties. As Head Girl, you will be expected to lead by example, maintain the highest standards of conduct, and foster a sense of much-needed unity among the student body. Your role is vital in building a positive atmosphere and ensuring the well-being of the Hogwarts community.

You will work closely with the Head Boy, Prefects, and the rest of the staff to ensure the smooth operation of our school. Your duties will include overseeing student discipline, organising and leading prefect meetings, and serving as a liaison between the student body and the Hogwarts faculty. I have every confidence that you will carry out these responsibilities with the same determination, intelligence, and integrity that has earned you this prestigious position. Your leadership skills have already left a lasting impression on both your peers and the faculty, and I am certain that you will make a significant impact during your tenure as Head Girl. Enclosed with this letter, you will find your official badge of office.

I look forward to witnessing your continued success and the positive influence you will undoubtedly have on the Hogwarts community.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Years ago, the letter would have been a cause for celebration. She would have gone out with her family for dinner, and celebrated together. She would have excitedly sought out Harry and Ron to ask which one had made Head Boy, privately convinced it would not be the latter. She'd have gotten to work making plans for the year, and started developing Prefect schedules and reflecting on the plans she'd dreamily made in previous years in preparation for this moment. She certainly wouldn't be sitting on a wall facing a home that she had no access to, wistful that she was the muggle girl sitting inside. It felt, often, that she'd won a brutal war and lost her life in the process, condemned to a life she had never wanted. As the Sun began to set, she apparated back to the steps of 12 Grimmauld Place and braced herself for the silence that would envelop her within its dusty halls.